Arch supporter



Sept

W. J. RILEY ARCH SUPPORTER Filed July 18. 1932 warf/e Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICE.

ARCH surroa'mn William J. Riley, Belmont, Mass. Application July 18, 1932, Serial No. 623,157

1 Claim. (01. 36-71) My present invention relates to arch supporters, and more particularly to a novel and improved removable supporter for use in boots and shoes.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision of an arch supporter, preferably of flexible cushioning material, which will combine the functions of forming a support both for the metatarsal arch and for the longitudinal arch of the foot, and in addition thereto' will constitute a support for the phalanges of the second, third, and fourth digits, as well as constituting a support for the sesamoid bones at the first joint of the hallux. This is particularly desirable when constructing a supporter for high heeled shoes. In such high heeled shoes, the weight of the wearer, being raised at the heel, is pressed downwardly almost directly on the phalanges and sesamoid, and unless a suitable supporter is provided to overcome this difilculty, serious results are liable to follow.

Another object of this invention resides in so forming the'forward portion of the arch supporter as to allow full freedom of the hallux and the hallux socket joint, as well as allowing full freedom for the outer ball of the foot.

A still further feature of the invention consists in the fact that the supporter, and particularly the forward portion thereof, is so formed and shaped as to allow the entrance of the foot into a shoe of the same size as the user is accustomed to wear. This enables my novel arch supporter to be utilized in shoes which the user has, not necessitating the purchase of new shoes, or shoes of a larger size than that to which the user is accustomed.

While I preferably construct this supporter of cushioning material such as soft rubber, it will be appreciated that I may make the same of other materials, such as leather if desired, or any suitable combinations thereof.

My novel supporter, therefore, combines several advantageous features, all in a readily removable and replaceable supporter.

Said supporter is economical and simple to manufacture, particularly when made of soft rubber, as the same may be molded in a single operation to finished, completed form. It may be found desirable to coat the foot contacting surface of said supporter with leather for com-' Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my novel supporter in a shoe, the shoe being illustrated only in outline; I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complete supporter; I

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1. v

Referring now to the drawing, for a particular description of the invention, its. construc- 7 tion and use, 10 designates generally my novel supporter, preferably composed of a soft rubber body 11 and a leather foot contacting layer 12. The supporter is provided with a thickened, upwardly projecting portion 13 located, when the foot of the wearer is in the shoe 14, under the longitudinal arch of the foot, as well as extending sufliciently far forward to be located under the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones, here designated generally at 15. At the inside edge of the supporter is provided an upwardly flaring extension 16, of less length but of greater height than the outside projection or extension 17. This inside extension 16 constitutes means to support the inner longitudi- .85 nal arch of the foot, as well as means to correctly position the foot within the shoe 14, regardless of the original contour of the normal foot supporting surface of the shoe in which the supporter is utilized, said lateral extension 16 being of predetermined thickness to effect the desirable results above stated.

The extension 16 projects forwardly a sufficient distance to underlie and constitute a support for the adjacent portion of the foot and thus allow freedom and natural movement for the hallux. The opposite lateral extension 17 constitutes a support for the outer edge of the foot opposite the inner longitudinal arch, and still further cooperates to correctly position the foot of the wearer within the shoe 14, and to distribute the weight of the wearer upon the foot in a normal and natural manner.

Projecting forwardly from the main portion of the supporter is a supporting section 18 positioned under the phalanges of the second, third and fourth digits, and. preventing flattening, compressing or other trouble at this important point of the foot. This feature is of particular advantage in high heeled shoes, where the no in Fig. 1, said phalanges being .generally designated at 19.

6 The supporter is cut away as illustrated at 20,

to permit normal seating of the heel of the wearer in the heel seat of the shoe, as, in shoes of this nature, the major portion of the foot of the wearer is thrown upon the forward portion of the foot and hence, it is the said forward portion of the foot to which particular attention must be directed in order to prevent or overcome troubles or dimculties caused by the wearing of such high heeled shoes.

From the foregoing, and from the drawing of this application, it will be instantly apparent to those skilled in this art that my novel supporter provides complete support for those portions of the foot where support is needed or required, and it will also be instantly apparent to and understood by those skilled in this art that the dimensions of my novel supporter may be varied to take care of individual requirements or needs, while still adhering to the principle of the invention.

My novel supporter will not interfere with the entrance or withdrawal of the foot of the wearer into or from the shoe, and said supporter, while performing the full orthopedic functions intended therefor, is nevertheless comfortable without detracting from its beneficial purposes.

I believe that the supporter illustrated herein is novel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly in this application.

WhileI have necessarily described my p esent invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and dimensions of the parts of my novel device within reasonably wide ranges without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of a claim as follows:

In an arch supporter of the kind described comprising a molded mass of yielding material, having a lining covering on the foot-receiving surfaced formed with an upwardly projecting rounded portion to underlie the longitudinal and 

